Sunbury and Gisborne sporting communities rally support for crash victim

The sports communities of Sunbury and Gisborne are throwing their arms around the family of a young woman fighting for life after a car crash last month.

A crowdfunding campaign, launched last week, raised more than $20,000 in six days in support of Bethany Wragg, 20, who was involved in a head-on collision in Sunbury on July 4 while travelling to netball training.

Police said the crash happened at about 5.15pm when a black Holden ute travelling east along Dalrymple Road and a blue Mazda in which Bethany was travelling west, collided.

Bethany sustained life-threatening injuries and was airlifted to the Alfred hospital, where she spent two weeks in the intensive care unit in an induced coma. She was then moved to the neurological ward to continue her care and recovery, but remains in a coma.

The driver of the ute, a 31-year-old Diggers Rest man, was taken to hospital with minor injuries.

The Wragg family is heavily involved in the Sunbury community and Bethany is an A-grade netballer for Gisborne Football Netball Club.

The GoFundme campaign was set up by Bethany’s aunt, Nicole Vernall, in response to requests from people wanting to help financially.

It had raised $20,145 by last Friday.

Ms Vernall said that while Bethany’s parents, Mary and Brenden, had not asked for any financial assistance, friends and family decided that a fund was the best way to show their support.

“It has been a turbulent time for the family but Bethany has fought, and continues to fight, everything that has been thrown at her so far,” Ms Vernall wrote in a post. “She is such a strong girl!”

Ms Vernall said the love and support of so many people had been amazing for Bethany’s family, allowing them to be by her side every day.

“I believe the support that has been shown is a true reflection of how many people Bethany has touched during her life so far,” she said. “While we don’t know what is ahead for Bethany at this stage, I do know that there will be things she may need or want further down the road in her recovery and these funds will be used to help purchase these.

“Along with Bethany’s family, I am so grateful for the support that has already been shown by so many of you in many different ways and the love that continues to be sent to Bethany and her family during this time.”